Lot 4: *MASTER OF THE FEMALE HALF-LENGTHS (ACTIVE 1500-1550)

oil on panel Little is known about the identity of the present artist. Friedländer (see Literature below) describes him as active circa 1500-1530. His oeuvre consists of small scale panels depicting elegant women performing various household tasks or Biblical themed works such as the present Virgin and Child. The basic compositional form of the Christ Child turning from the Virgin and reaching for fruit can be found in The Holy Family in the National Gallery, London and in reverse in Rest on the Flight into Egypt in the Johnson Collection, Philadelphia (see Literature below no. 74 and 78). In contrast to the above mentioned works, the Virgin and Child in the present painting are set in an interior with a bedroom visible in the background creating a very maternal and intimate scene.

with Dowdeswell, London Sale: Christie's, Monaco, December 4, 1993, lot 10, there purchased by the present collector FF 1,800,000 ($255,060)